WhatsApp will launch its own payment system for smartphone owners

WhatsApp is known as a means of communication, but soon its functionality will expand significantly, — said the head of the Facebook application Will Cathcart. Already this year, the list of messenger features will be supplemented by the built-in system of fast money transfers, not tied to the smartphone manufacturer and its operating system.

Messenger occupies one of the leading positions in the market — its audience is more than 1.5 billion users. The developers of the popular application announced the launch of WhatsApp Pay service, to send money with which "will be as easy as sending messages". According to the publication Business Today, the company tested the platform in February last year. It is expected that the launch of the payment service will take place before the end of this year in India, and later in other regions.

Earlier, Facebook, which owns WhatsApp, announced the release of its own cryptocurrency, operations with which will be coordinated by the regulatory body of the Libra Association. It, according to the developers, will be used to pay for purchases and services, international transfers and donations, but the release date of the digital currency is not announced.